Title: This May Be the Year

Text: 1 Pet 4:7-11

Date: 1-01-06.am

1 Peter 4:7-11

7 Now the end of all things is near; therefore, be clear-headed and disciplined for prayer.

8 Above all, keep your love for one another at full strength, since love covers a multitude of sins.

9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining.

10 Based on the gift they have received, everyone should use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.

11 If anyone speaks, his speech should be like the oracles of God; if anyone serves, his service should be from the strength God provides, so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. (HCSB)

Introduction: This may be the year! Peter expected Jesus to return in his own day, and if the return of Christ seemed imminent to Peter, how much more to us! Peter longed for the Lord's return. The Bible says we should long for it as well. We should wake up every morning in expectation saying, "Maybe this is the day Christ will return.

But, what if it were today?" What, are the implications? What would that mean for us in terms of how live, or how we should live? If we knew for certain that we were the last generation of Christians on earth, would it make a difference in our lives? Peter wrote: "The end of all things is at hand . . ." And he went on to specify four activities that should mark our lives in the coming Year.

1. Be Clear headed and disciplined for Prayer (v. 7). "The end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers." The Greek word for "serious" means "sane, sensible". The word "watchful" was used for staying sober and alert. The two verbs together denote complete control of oneself, resulting in calmness, sobriety, self-control, sensibleness, steadiness.

You get the feeling here God puts more value on our prayers than we do. He considers prayer a serious activity that can influence world events.

The prophet Daniel was aware of current events and it influenced the way he prayed (see Dan. 9). Obviously world events have been on our minds and hearts lately with the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan the Middle East. Pray for current events and world leaders, become a world prayer warrior , but don’t be panicked by what you see and read and hear.

2. Keep your love for one another at full strength(v. 8). Again The end of all things is near " The Greek word for full strength conveys the idea of effort, active love. It’s like a horse on a full stretch barreling toward the finish line. This kind of love covers a multitude of sins

This kind of love enables us to minimize the faults of others and to maximize their strengths. It can transform our relationships this year.

3. Be hospitable to one another without complaining (v. 9). When Jesus left Nazareth, He spent three years sleeping in homes other than his own. He didn't own a house, and there were few hotels in those days. Jesus either slept under the stars or in a borrowed a bed in someone's house. Our world has changed quite a bit since then but there are still many ways we can be hospitable to one another. Be aware of the needs of others being willing to take a meal or offer a ride or will to take a neighbor to the grocery store or even willing to buy some groceries for someone else. And that’s certainly not exhaustive I’m sure you can think of many other ways you can be hospitable to other people. And the little phrase tacked on to the end jabs us like a sharp stick “without complaining.”

4. Minister to One Another (vv. 1011). Serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. That means we should be using our spiritual gifts minister to one another .

Peter mentions Two basic groups of gifts: speaking gifts and serving gifts. If you look at the lists of gifts mentioned in Scripture you can see how they could fall in these two groups.

Some have speaking gifts: "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God."

Whenever you tell someone about Christ, it is Christ Himself using your mouth to speak His good message. When God gives you an opportunity to teach, preach, witness, evangelize, or encourage someone, exhort it's as though Jesus Himself were personally speaking to those people.

The other kind of gift is the serving gifts. You can list all kinds of gifts in this group. In whatever way we can we're to serve in the strength He provides. The strength of body He provides, some are more strong physically than others but many ways of serving don’t require great physical strength. There is also the strength of attitude He provides. Phil 4:13 I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me. (HCSB) Hospitality comes under this gift and again we are reminded of those words “without complaining.”

Conclusion: The passage ends in v. 11: ". . .so that in everything ( prayer, hospitality, ministry and love) God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. Because, To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. For the coming year, living in the anticipation and expectation of Christ's return, let's be resolved to devote 2006 to prayer, love, hospitality, and ministry for the glory of God! And all God’s people said: Amen!